St Mary's Church, Thatcham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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A view across the graveyard
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| Location | Church Gate Thatcham Berkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | 1140 |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 6 April 1967 |
| Style | Norman |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Thatcham |
| Archdeaconry | Berkshire |
| Diocese | Oxford |
St Mary's Church is a special church for the Church of England in Thatcham, Berkshire, England. It is named after the Virgin Mary. This church is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it is a very important historical building. It is protected because of its special history and architecture.
Contents
About St Mary's Church
History of the Church
Some people believe that St Mary's Church was first started a very long time ago, in the 7th century. This would have been by a saint named Birinus. Even if that's not exactly true, parts of the church we see today are very old. Some sections of the building date back to the 12th century. This means they are over 800 years old!
The Church Tower and Bells
The tower at St Mary's Church holds a set of 10 bells. These bells are used for a special type of ringing called change ringing. This is where bell ringers create music by changing the order in which the bells ring.
Old and New Bells
The oldest bells in the tower were made in 1624. These five bells (the 5th to 9th largest) were cast by a bell maker named Ellis I Knight from Reading. The newest bells, the two smallest ones, were made much later in 1969. They were cast by a company called John Taylor & Co.
The biggest bell is called the tenor bell. It was made in 1825 and weighs about 671 kilograms (which is like 1,480 pounds!). When it rings, it makes the note 'F'.
When Do the Bells Ring?
The bell ringers at St Mary's Church practice regularly. You can hear them practicing on Tuesday evenings. Their practice sessions usually run from 7:30 PM until 9:15 PM. They also ring the bells on Sunday mornings. On Sundays, they ring from 9:15 AM until 10:00 AM, right before the church service.
